Free calling apps can make or receive domestic and international calls at no cost to you using Wi-Fi or cellular data.

Each of these apps assigns you a free phone number (in the US) that you can use to call or text any other American number, and it will behave like you are in the US. They will not use your cell minutes or SMS text messages.

Here are the best free calling apps for Android and iOS.

1. Talkatone: The Best Free Calling App

Talkatone has been around for a while and is one of the most well-known free calling apps on this list. It’s gone through a lot of changes over the years, but now it offers unlimited free calls and texts to any number within the US and Canada. You can buy also credits to make international calls; those rates vary.

It’s packed full of features such as custom voicemail greetings, passcode protection (so no one else can access the app), and call blocking.

Talkatone handles the basics with ease, and the one-time $10 purchase to remove banner ads is inexpensive compared to some of the subscription models in this list. Its interface is straightforward, modern, and a breeze to navigate.

2. TextNow: The Top Free Phone Number App for Calling and Texting

TextNow also offers free calls and texts to the US and Canada, but with a slightly different design and much more customization. The app has a menu that slides in from the left side, and you can change the theme’s colors to match your needs.

It even lets you sync your texts with your computer; this is a huge bonus when compared to the other apps on this list.

TextNow used to operate on a subscription model: you had to pay $3 per month to retain your number and access features like voicemail and call forwarding. Today, that’s not the case. The app is free to use and lets you make free calls within the United States without restrictions. You can remove the ads if you’re willing to pay.

TextNow also lets you call internationally, though you will need to either complete in-app surveys or buy minutes to do this.

3. FreeTone/TextMe Up/Text Me: Make Free Phone Calls to the US and Canada

FreeTone, TextMe Up, and Text Me are all the same app with different color schemes. FreeTone is a seafoam greenish-blue, TextMe Up is light blue, and Text Me is nearly royal blue. They all provide a free phone number for calling and texting.

If you download FreeTone and make an account, you’re given a number. If you then download TextMe Up, you’ll automatically be signed in with the same number. They’re all made by the same company, TextMe. We’re not sure why it chose to make three separate apps.

Alas, whichever app you end up downloading, they all work well. Calls and texts to the US and Canada are free, but you can purchase credits to call internationally (or earn credits by watching sponsored videos). There’s also a web messenger that you can log into on any device using the built-in QR code scanner.

Its ads are more integrated than the easily ignored banner ads of other apps, which is sneaky. It feels like the ads are too mixed in with the content. It costs $2 a month to remove them.

4. TextPlus: A Solid International Calling App

TextPlus offers free texts and free inbound calls, but not free outbound calls. Outbound calls within the US cost around $0.02 per minute, or you can watch videos to get free credits if you’d prefer.

The interface is separated into five tabs. The first tab provides your balance and lets you earn credits. Oddly, the second seems to closely replicate the first. The other three are your texts, calls, contacts, and settings. In the settings, you can easily change your number for a new one in any US area code.

Without free outbound calls to the US and Canada, we can’t see many reasons to choose TextPlus over any of the previous options unless they have cheaper calling rates to a particular country you need to call frequently.

5. Dingtone

For a long time, Dingtone looked dated, which was a shame. The app has some unique features but the interface turned people away. Thankfully, a recent redesign has remedied those problems. Today, it sports a sleek Material Design interface that’s easy to use and navigate.

And what about those unique features? We particularly like Callback; Dingtone can ring you and the other person then connect your calls, thus reducing fees. The app also supports adding a second and third number to your other devices. You can have one number for your phone, another for your tablet, and so on.

As you would expect, you can also set up voicemail, call forwarding, and call blocking. To make international calls to landlines and cell phones in more than 200 countries, you can earn free credits by watching videos.

Unfortunately, calling prices are obscured by the fact that Dingtine doesn’t charge by cents per minute, but instead by credits per minute. This can make it really easy to overspend.

Lastly, while the other apps only give you access to US numbers, Dingtone can provide you with a number in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Belgium, and the Netherlands. As such, for non-US residents, it’s a solid choice.

Other Ways to Communicate for Free

Free calling apps that give you a free number or let you make free phone calls to the US and Canada are just one of the many ways you can communicate for free using your smartphone. If they don’t meet your needs, why not check out some other options?

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

claudio dominici

February 22, 2019 at 6:02 pm

1) Talkatone has a black list of countries that are not enabled to use the service.
2) Freetone does not look free! let's you choose an area code and a number but it appears that you have to subscribe a payment service to obtain it.

Joining the 5 year old comments... I have used Google Voice for YEARS... the only downside is that you can call the US or Canada for free... but you can only talk for 3 hours and then you have to hang up and call back... what could be better? (from your computer to any land line or cell.)

I have used text now for over a year and never had to pay a dime to lock my phone number...I've had the same number all along. My daughter just downloaded the app a few weeks ago and lost her phone number due to not making at least 1 call every couple of days. However, emails were sent warning her the number would be deleted if no activity was made. I have never not received a call or text. The calls are always clear. The ads are shown on the bottom of the screen and are bearly noticeable. The only negative thing I can say about the app is it sometimes freezes or acts slowly when trying to text.

Be careful with FreeTone/TextMe Up/Text Me. The lack of true of Textme group, its app and costumer service is really bad. It is not true "Calls and texts to the US and Canada free". Textme said after install the app: "We currently support automated verification texts from limited companies. If you are using a free number, and if TextMe supports the company's verification messages (CAREFUL), you will be asked to purchase your number in order to receive the verification code". I did and I'm still not getting that kind of messages. Few days w/o customer service's answer. Text messaging is unreliable, for sure should be GOOD apps out there.

The problem here is that anyone of the described tools/apps, from what I see, provide VoIP phone services and not "real" landline numbers.
This means that from services as "Microsft Rewards" as many others including some Google ones, they text you code or call you only if you provide a "real" (or better) "landline" and not "VoIP" number.
If someone knows a service, able to provide a landline number to a non-US citizen and for a reasonable fee, please leave a reply.

I have living in Mexico for over a year and I have no problems with VOIP from FreedomPop clear voice quality and is free 200 minutes USA AND CANADA AND ISLANDS plus 100 minutes international calls to Mexico all for free... I m so happy coze to communicate in Mexico is so expensive!

I was using magicApp fine for about a year until the weekend June 26th, 2016 when I attempted to make a call. It said my subscription expired,and asked to log into my account which I did. Then a message comes it did not recognize my account, after many attempts useless attempts I got in and it asked me to purchase. I unis talked on my android and reinstalled but still not getting my app to open.

I'm so surprised here no one has mentioned Textme. I have used it for over a year. It's amazing. You can choose your number. You can send text, make and receive calls all over for literally free. Of course there are apps. You can get credits by completing tasks or you can buy. You can remove the notification after a while I dint even bother cos I use it quite often.
The interface is okay too. I would like to know if someone else has tried it cos I have nothing negative to say about this service.

Magicapp does let you select an area code for your "permanent" US phone number with the paid premium upgrade of approx $15/year. Phone & texting work fine with ipad2 on ios8. Another good VoIP & text for Canadian use is Fongo. You are assigned a real Canadian phone number in the area code of your choice. They offer US texting as a paid upgrade. Most phonecalls to major cities/areas both US & Canadian are free. Some have a $0.04 connection fee, with a nominal call charge based on connection time. Certainly a very cheap alternative to the Canadian mobile service providers.

Dingtone provide UK numbers, they also provide phone numbers of US and Canada. Dingtone phone numbers may need credits, but they also provide many ways to earn free credits. In that way, you may got free phone numbers as a second line for you phone, or you could change your ipod, ipad, tablet to a phone: make free calls to landline and mobile, receive calls. It also support free texts.

My Republic Wireless ($25 month, unlimited data, long distance, texts, no contract) phone works from anywhere in the world to call US numbers for free as long you're connected by wifi. People can call you, but again you must be connected by wifi, and again, it's free for you. The caller would have to pay whatever it usually costs them to call you.

I live in Portugal and my sister lives in the USA. I can make free calls to landline and mobile numbers in the States.
I'm using Mobile Voip for Android. I bought credits (10$) at freevoipdeal.com
They have super low rates for a great number of countries.
All calls to the USA are free. The same goes to China.

GrooveIP for android is the best I've used on android so far. You are given a ring.to number where you can make/receive calls. I haven't found a similar app for ios though.

Another option is to use zoiper app to receive calls. You can get a number, say from callcentric. And configure zoiper with your callcentric account. Then use MagicApp/Talkatone/Mo+/Google voice to make calls.

@michel I am in Canada too, please explain more. How did you get data plan only on your phone. I always want to have that but they keep telling me no no no. I use Windmobile, who is your provider?

I use Magic Jack app when my phone stop working ( i use prepaid plan). The only problem is you have to be in wifi zone to use it and you will experience static calls if your wifi signal weakens. If @michel shows me how to make my call app works with phone data, I will kiss goodbye to those fat belly, pathetic and greedy phone companies for life.

I have a high end smart phone but i did not .....i repeat....i did not buy it to make phone calls. This might sound weired but it is true. I take cool pix and video with it, I surf the net like a pro on it, watch my tv shows on it on the go, it is my GPS, and i play GTA San Andreas, Fifa14 and Nintendo Super Mario 64 on it......you read that right.

You may use these apps to make long distance calls but I want to use them locally. I would rather spend my money on data and be able to use my phone than give it away to those ugly phone companies.

If you have ditched conventional cell phone talk +data planes and just got data and you were able to use your apps to make calls like @michel, lets talk here ....if Justin permits that is :)

There is an app also called Viber. You can call people world wide on their cell phones as long as you and them have data plans. I don't know if you can call land lines. I used it briefly and it was not that bad.

Virgin Mobile: http://goo.gl/be9bfX I confess I haven't done this - others have, I simply use only wifi. I just don't use the phone much, so it's not worth paying for. Wind probably just doesn't want to do this, but other providers will - including Rogers, I think.

How well did you test these before recommending them because last I recall talkatone only gives you 10-30 minutes a month of outgoing calls to actual phone numbers. Calls between talkatone users are free.

For users in Canada, or who want to call to Canada, Fongo. You get a phone number in the area code of your choice, you can choose among available numbers, all regular phone features (except texting, which is a small extra charge), Canada-wide calling and the ability to choose different "faces". Available on ios, android, blackberry, etc. Free. Works on wifi or data (so you can get a minimal data only plan and otherwise use wifi). It's my only phone. My monthly bill is zero.

Just returned from Europe and used Magic Jack app on my IPhone in the UK, Spain, and Portugal...very undependable with lots of static and dead air, despite having excellent wifi...appreciate your review and will try Talkatone next...

Dan is a British expat living in Mexico. He is currently a Senior Writer for MakeUseOf. At various times, he has been the Social Editor, Creative Editor, and Finance Editor. He is also an Editor for MUO's sister site, Blocks Decoded. Prior to his writing career, he was a Financial Consultant. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.